Transferring Out of USMA

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ct2023

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Joined
Feb 26, 2018
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39
Hi, I'm a plebe considering outprocessing for personal reasons. I apologize for coming here with this, but if anyone has experience applying elsewhere from USMA it would be a great help. Is the application process, which asks for recommendations by professors and college reports, something I can do, and where would I go to do so?
 
ct2023 said:
Hi, I'm a plebe considering outprocessing for personal reasons. I apologize for coming here with this, but if anyone has experience applying elsewhere from USMA it would be a great help. Is the application process, which asks for recommendations by professors and college reports, something I can do, and where would I go to do so?
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The application process is the same as if you were transferring from any other college. If you are finishing the semester you will be considered a transfer student at colleges I am familiar with, but you should check with colleges you are applying to regarding specific requirements.

If you do not finish the semester, it is possible you will be considered an incoming freshman rather than a transfer student. But again each college will stipulate its own requirements.

The Dean's Office handles transcripts. Request recommendations directly from instructors. Most colleges accept the Common Application for transfers - makes it much easier for recommendations.

Think carefully before making a decision to leave - you made a lot of effort to get there. If you want to stay but have personal issues, talk to your TAC, Chaplain, etc. Accommodations may be possible. If you just think USMA is not the place for you, my opinion is to stay the full year if academics are not the problem. A full year of college will be more substantial in a transfer application and you may change your mind.
 
ct2023 said:
Hi, I'm a plebe considering outprocessing for personal reasons. I apologize for coming here with this, but if anyone has experience applying elsewhere from USMA it would be a great help. Is the application process, which asks for recommendations by professors and college reports, something I can do, and where would I go to do so?
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The first year is awful for many. It gets easier as time passes. Try and remember that you are not alone feeling the way you do. They wanted you or you would not be there. Don't forget that.

Best
 
It sounds like you don't have a plan to start somewhere in the Spring. Do you feel safe? Are you ok--like inside your head? If you do not feel safe or feel like you might hurt yourself, please get in touch with one of the chaplains--or your TAC or one of the many resources available to you. that is the most important thing--that you should feel like you are not in any danger.
Now, It is ok to feel unhappy and overwhelmed with 1) being a plebe and 2) the pressures of the end of your first semester of college. These can be hard times. It is ok to go through periods where you do not remember why you wanted to go to West Point (1) to be an Army Officer but (2) FOR THE CHALLENGE! You wanted to do something hard & unusual.

So, before you decide to transfer, please attempt to finish strong these last two weeks--whether you stay or go, the grades and credits that you earn now--you need them. They stay with you for the rest of your life and can help you--especially if you walk out of USMA and go to civiian college--you won't have to 'pay' for these many credits.

Talk to a chaplain or someone at the Center for Personal Development or if you have a trusted teacher or mentor to discuss how you are doing and what you might do as your next step. You might also wish to talk to your parents. If you decide to transfer, you may wish to do so from a position of power rather than from just leaving without a plan. NOT NOW--please, focus on final projects--and TEE's--but during the winter break, you can spend time thinking about and researching colleges you might wish to attend. You could even fill out a few transfer applications to see how that feels and open your options. As long as you are feeling ok (mentally and physically), you might plan to apply to other schools, and then go back to USMA and try it for one more semester--again, those college credits stay with you when you transfer. (You then give yourself a LOT more time to make a final decision--and also, the summers at USMA are the best--you get to do wonderful, fun, different things--and finishing plebe year is a great feeling.)

Try to finish strong this term. You will need those credits, no matter what.
 
I did exactly what you are contemplating doing. I transferred to a very good school, graduated and have had a great career and life. That said, my advice to you is that you stay and graduate. At some point in your life you will regret your decision. It may not be tomorrow or the day after that, but eventually the day will come.
 
USMAPS76 said:
I did exactly what you are contemplating doing. I transferred to a very good school, graduated and have had a great career and life. That said, my advice to you is that you stay and graduate. At some point in your life you will regret your decision. It may not be tomorrow or the day after that, but eventually the day will come.
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Thank you for your insight here. Do you regret that you didn’t complete at USMA? Why is the regret? Anything shareable pls share.
 
We have talked to many since our DD was accepted to usma. Some left and some are old grads. All that left seem to have some regrets. One left at the 2 year mark and never regretted as she stayed until she had to commit and that it wasn’t the life she wanted for herself. Most of those that left said it was the biggest regret of their life. So please try and remember why you wanted to go in the first place. If there are other reasons please seek consul. Stay safe. God bless.
 
West Point will be the hardest and best time of your career in the Army. If you can survive there, you can accomplish anything.
 
Just to add to the above.
If you are set on leaving I would wait until the end of the school year. Use the time to work on your grades and applications to other universities. Do NOT just leave USMA with no definite plan.
Having said that, I would try to stick it out for two years. It’s free. Then, after the 1.5 year mark if you are still intent on leaving start the application process and leave at the end of your Yuck year.
Take a hard look at your personal reasons. They are personal and I don’t expect you to share them, but I would strongly caution you on leaving for “personal reasons” without discussing them with the outlets listed by other posters. If the “personal reason” is a significant other I doubly caution against leaving for such a reason. I can give you a pretty much 100% guarantee that you will regret leaving for such a reason.
Good luck to you.
 
Thanks all of you for your advice! I really appreciate it!
I do not plan on leaving until I’ve finished at least one academic year, and I fully intend on having a solid backup plan if I do. I can promise my reasons aren’t based on anything temporary or anything like that. I’m in TEE mode right now, and that has my full attention, I was just looking into how the actual transfer app would work from here in case it was something I would need to do something separate for (after TEEs). Thanks again and have a great day!
 
DrMom said:
It sounds like you don't have a plan to start somewhere in the Spring. Do you feel safe? Are you ok--like inside your head? If you do not feel safe or feel like you might hurt yourself, please get in touch with one of the chaplains--or your TAC or one of the many resources available to you. that is the most important thing--that you should feel like you are not in any danger.
Now, It is ok to feel unhappy and overwhelmed with 1) being a plebe and 2) the pressures of the end of your first semester of college. These can be hard times. It is ok to go through periods where you do not remember why you wanted to go to West Point (1) to be an Army Officer but (2) FOR THE CHALLENGE! You wanted to do something hard & unusual.

So, before you decide to transfer, please attempt to finish strong these last two weeks--whether you stay or go, the grades and credits that you earn now--you need them. They stay with you for the rest of your life and can help you--especially if you walk out of USMA and go to civiian college--you won't have to 'pay' for these many credits.

Talk to a chaplain or someone at the Center for Personal Development or if you have a trusted teacher or mentor to discuss how you are doing and what you might do as your next step. You might also wish to talk to your parents. If you decide to transfer, you may wish to do so from a position of power rather than from just leaving without a plan. NOT NOW--please, focus on final projects--and TEE's--but during the winter break, you can spend time thinking about and researching colleges you might wish to attend. You could even fill out a few transfer applications to see how that feels and open your options. As long as you are feeling ok (mentally and physically), you might plan to apply to other schools, and then go back to USMA and try it for one more semester--again, those college credits stay with you when you transfer. (You then give yourself a LOT more time to make a final decision--and also, the summers at USMA are the best--you get to do wonderful, fun, different things--and finishing plebe year is a great feeling.)

Try to finish strong this term. You will need those credits, no matter what.
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I really appreciate your concern and I wanted to say I’m fine, these are just decisions, and I am in no way unsafe. This is great advice
 
ct2023 said:
Thanks all of you for your advice! I really appreciate it!
I do not plan on leaving until I’ve finished at least one academic year, and I fully intend on having a solid backup plan if I do. I can promise my reasons aren’t based on anything temporary or anything like that. I’m in TEE mode right now, and that has my full attention, I was just looking into how the actual transfer app would work from here in case it was something I would need to do something separate for (after TEEs). Thanks again and have a great day!
Click to expand...
Ok. That makes more sense. I got the impression you were looking at not returning after Christmas break.
if you are thinking of not returning after next summer I would definitely start the app process now. Maybe schedule campus visits over winter/spring breaks.
Also, I would try to go through summer training. Even if you decide to leave you may find it beneficial. It may also solidify a decision to leave, or give you pause and reconsider staying.
We heard rumors of our DD possibly not returning after her Plebe year. She claimed it was just CNN (Cadet News Network) gossip. We encouraged her to stay through the end of her Yuck year but also told her we would support her as long as she had a plan.
I think “Pluck” summer/Air Assault was good for her; and any doubts she may have had were eliminated during the summer between Yuck/Cow year. She loved working with New Cadets and had no doubts about affirmation.
 
Thanks for the update @ct2023
Enjoy the Army Navy Game. Best wishes for TEEs and a safe & fun trip home. (Spend time thinking about where you might want to transfer...and what is required for the transfer application...you might also think about schools to which you were accepted in addition to West Point--and reach out to them--you know those schools and programs, and certainly, they have your high school record.)
Great plan to hang in there for the Spring term. I promise it gets better; however, your pesonal reasons for leaving--they are yours alone, but try scheduling a little time with someone in the CPD--to ensure that you are thinking in a balanced way about the long game.
 
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